‘Riverdale Press’ tilts towards Koppell

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To the editor:

The Riverdale Press has a policy of not officially endorsing candidates. When Bernard Stein was publisher and editor, this policy was honestly followed. Reporting was balanced and everyone had their say in letters to the editor and “Points of view.”

Under the current publisher and editor, Bernard’s brother Richard, this does not seem to be the policy. Now if you’re supporting Oliver Koppell, then come right out and endorse him. Stop claiming neutrality while printing articles and columns by Associate Editor Shant Shahrigian that read like Koppell propaganda.

In his June 26 “Political Arena” column, Mr. Shahrigian takes aim at the man Mr. Koppell is challenging, state senator and Independent Democratic Conference head Jeff Klein. He quotes state Sen. Gustavo Rivera on the coalition that Klein formed with Republicans as saying, “Medical marijuana was too watered down. I think that’s one of the many things we could have achieved had we been in the majority.”

Mr. Shahrigian does not ask how this would have been possible with a Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, who had long been against any marijuana legalization. It was a big shift for Mr. Cuomo, whose views on marijuana often sound like they’re from the screenplay of Reefer Madness, to approve even this watered-down bill.

But Mr. Rivera and other Democrats are more willing to attack Mr. Klein than the more powerful and vindictive Mr. Cuomo. In fact, Mr. Cuomo’s record of cutting taxes for the rich and balancing the budget on the backs of poorly paid workers looks very Republican to me.

In fact, it wasn’t until recently that Mr. Cuomo became uncomfortable with Mr. Klein’s coalition with Republicans. The New York Observer reported last March that Mr. Klein angered Mr. Cuomo with his support for pre-K funding and giving Mayor Bill de Blasio the authority to enact a tax surcharge on rich New York City residents. Mr. Klein got most of the pre-K funding, $300 million, but not the tax. But it was only then that Mr. Cuomo started to encourage Mr. Koppell’s campaign.

Mr. Koppell’s record includes support for tearing down a baseball landmark, Yankee Stadium, and giving George Steinbrenner tax breaks and city land to build the new stadium. He also endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg for reelection in 2009. So he has as much right to call any Democrat a traitor as, well, Mr. Cuomo.

Richard Warren

Political Arena, bias, Richard Warren

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